Replaceable Tip Systems for a Tine

ABSTRACT

A breaker tine comprises a front elongated portion, a rear elongated portion, a nose portion extending from the front elongated portion at an opposite end from the rear elongated portion, and a replaceable ground engaging tool coupled to the nose portion of the breaker tine. The breaker tine may include pins for attaching the ground engaging tool to the breaker tine. The breaker tine may further include a first receiving cavity formed in a first side of the nose portion, and a second receiving cavity formed in a second side of the nose portion, wherein the first receiving cavity is opposite the second receiving cavity but do not communicate or connect with each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent disclosure relates generally to a machine accessory and,more particularly, to a replaceable tip for a breaker tine.

BACKGROUND

Earth-working machines, such as, excavators, wheel loaders, hydraulicmining shovels, cable shovels, bucket wheels, bulldozers, and draglines,for example, are generally used for digging or ripping into the earth orrock and/or moving loosened work material from one place to another at aworksite. These earth-working machines include various earth-workingimplements, such as forks, a bucket, or a blade, for excavating ormoving the work material. Such implements can be subjected to extremewear from the abrasion and impacts experienced during the earth-workingapplications.

To protect these implements against wear, and thereby prolong the usefullife of the implements, various ground engaging tools, such as teeth,edge protectors, and other wear members, can be provided to theearth-working implements in the areas where the most damaging abrasionsand impacts occur. These ground engaging tools are removably attached tothe implements using customized retainer systems, so that worn ordamaged ground engaging tools can be readily removed and replaced withnew ground engaging tools.

Many removable ground engaging tool systems have been proposed and usedfor earth-working implements. One example of a wear assembly forexcavating equipment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,649 toCarpenter et al. The disclosed wear assembly includes a wear member anda base each with upper and lower stabilizing surfaces that are offsetand at overlapping depths to reduce the overall depth of the assemblywhile maintaining high strength and a stable coupling. A nose and socketeach includes a generally triangular-shaped front stabilizing end toprovide a highly stable front connection between the nose and wearmember for both vertical and side loading. A lock is movable betweenhold and release positions to accommodate replacing of the wear memberwhen needed, and secured to the wear member for shipping and storagepurposes.

A block handler is a specific type of wheel loader for moving orbreaking out large blocks of stone or other material in a quarry,mining, or construction environment. The block handler is typically afront loader configured in a special arrangement to be able to handlethe heavy weight of the blocks, such as by having an increasedcounterweight or high pressure hydraulics. A variety of attachments maybe used to handle the stone such as a breaker tine or forks.

The block handler uses a breaker tine for prying loose large stoneblocks. The breaker tine is built with an extra thick tine to handle avariety of materials in this demanding application. However, the tip ofthe breaker tine is prone to wear during use from breaking out andmoving heavy stone blocks and other materials. Repair and servicing ofexisting breaker tines is cumbersome, as it requires the burning of thewelds of the tine attached to the main frame. This adds the risk ofadditional weld stresses and decreases the predicted service life of thebreaker tine. Additionally, such repairs may be difficult to perform atcustomer sites, due to remote locations or accessibility of repairequipment.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved ground engaging tool systemsthat include on-site replaceable breaker tines. Various aspects of thedisclosure may solve one or more of these problems and/or disadvantages.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the disclosure describes a replaceable ground engagingtool system for a breaker tine. The system includes a back frameassembly, a breaker tine coupled to the back frame assembly, the breakertine comprising a front elongated portion, a rear elongated portionextending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the frontelongated portion, a nose portion extending from the front elongatedportion at an opposite end from the rear elongated portion, wherein afirst side of the nose portion has a frustoconically shaped first pin onan exterior surface, and a second side of the nose portion has afrustoconically shaped second pin on an exterior surface opposite thefirst pin, a replaceable ground engaging tool coupled to the noseportion of the breaker tine, comprising a front end, a rear end, a topsurface, a bottom surface, a first side opposite a second side, and anose portion receiving cavity on an interior side.

In another aspect, the disclosure describes a breaker tine, comprising afront elongated portion, a rear elongated portion extending in adirection substantially perpendicular to the front elongated portion, anose portion extending from the front elongated portion at an oppositeend from the rear elongated portion, wherein a first side of the noseportion has a frustoconically shaped first pin on an exterior surface,and a second side of the nose portion has a frustoconically shapedsecond pin on an exterior surface of the nose portion of the breakertine.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure describes a pin, comprising afirst end, a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second endis frustoconically shaped, and a bolt receiving cavity formed in thesecond end and substantially centered on a longitudinal axis of the pin,wherein the bolt receiving cavity is threaded on an inside surface, anda top end of the bolt receiving cavity has a bolt head receivingportion.

It is contemplated that in certain aspects the disclosure describes aground engaging tool system, comprising a back frame assembly, a breakertine coupled to the back frame assembly, the breaker tine comprising afront elongated portion, a rear elongated portion extending in adirection substantially perpendicular to the front elongated portion, anose portion extending from the front elongated portion at an oppositeend from the rear elongated portion, a first plate receiving cavityformed in a first side of the nose portion, a second plate receivingcavity formed in a second side of the nose portion, wherein the firstplate receiving cavity is opposite the second plate receiving cavity butdo not communicate or connect with each other, a first plate comprisinga frustoconically shaped first knob, wherein the first plate isconfigured to fit into the first plate receiving cavity, a replaceableground engaging tool coupled to the nose portion of the breaker tine,comprising a front end, a rear end, a top surface, a bottom surface, afirst side opposite a second side, and a nose portion receiving cavityon an interior side.

In certain aspects, the disclosure describes a replaceable groundengaging tool, comprising a front end, a rear end, a top surface, abottom surface, a first side opposite a second side, a nose portionreceiving cavity on an interior side, and a bulge extending outward froman exterior surface of the first side of the ground engaging tool,wherein a lock opening extends through the bulge, wherein a width of thefront end of the ground engaging tool extending from the first side tothe second side is greater than 1.5 times of a height of the rear end ofthe ground engaging tool extending from the top surface to the bottomsurface of the ground engaging tool.

In another aspect, the disclosure describes a plate, comprising a bottomportion, a top portion, a frustoconically shaped knob located on anexterior surface, a seating portion located between the top portion andthe bottom portion, wherein the top portion is thicker than the bottomportion in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the knob.

Further and alternative aspects and features of the disclosed principleswill be appreciated from the following detailed description and theaccompanying drawings. As will be appreciated, the systems and methodsdisclosed herein are capable of being carried out in other and differentaspects, and capable of being modified in various respects. Accordingly,it is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand do not restrict the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a ground engaging tool systemaccording to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a tine accordingto an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates the breaker tine of FIG. 2 having pins in the pinreceiving cavities according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the pin shown in FIG. 3 havinga cavity according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the pin according to an aspect of thedisclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of a ground engaging toolaccording to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a tine and theground engaging tool shown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of thedisclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a portion of a tine and a groundengaging tool shown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective view of a ground engaging toolshown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.7 according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a ground engaging tool system with plate receivingcavities according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates plates disposed in the plate receiving cavitiesshown in FIG. 11 according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG.12 according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a first plate according to anaspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates a top down view of the first plate shown in FIG. 14according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 illustrates a ground engaging tool system with knobs integratedinto the tine according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 illustrates a top down view of the tine with knobs shown in FIG.16 according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the tine with knobs shown in FIG. 16according to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 illustrates a top down view of the tine shown in FIG. 16 withthe ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of thedisclosure.

FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of the tine shown in FIG. 16 with theground engaging tool shown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of thedisclosure.

FIG. 21 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG.19 according to an aspect of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer tolike elements, there is illustrated a ground engaging tool system 100with a frame 101, a tine 102, and a ground engaging tool 104. The groundengaging tool system 100 is configured to be attached to a machine (notshown). The machine can be an “over-the-road” vehicle such as a truck ormay be any other type of machine that performs some type of operationassociated with an industry such as mining, construction, farming,transportation, or any other industry known in the art. For example, themachine may be an off-highway truck, earth-moving machine, such as ablock handler, front loader, forklift, or the like. The ground engagingtool system 100 may be any type of assembly that includes tines, such asa breaker tine assembly or a forklift assembly. The tine 102 can be anytype of tine, such as a breaker tine or a forklift tine. The groundengaging tool system 100 may have more than one tine 102, such as in aforklift configuration, for example, that may have two tines 102.

An exemplary aspect of the disclosure provides a mechanically attachedground engaging tool (GET) 104 (FIG. 1) for a block handler breakertine. The ground engaging tool may be a replaceable tip or wearresistant cap for a tine which can be easy to remove and replace in thefield. The use of such a ground engaging tool increases the service lifeof the tines, and provides for the easy replacement of parts that mayexhibit increased wear.

Any dimensions recited herein are, of course, by way of illustrationonly. In other aspects, other dimensions may be used, and the dimensionscan be varied in any fashion as appropriate to the application.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a ground engaging tool system100 according to an aspect of the disclosure. In the aspect shown inFIG. 1, the ground engaging tool system 100 with the frame 101, the tine102, and the ground engaging tool 104 is shown. The tine 102 may becoupled to the frame 101, where the tine 102 may have an elongated bodywith a front elongated portion 103 and a rear elongated portion 105. Inone aspect of the disclosure, the front elongated portion 103 can extendfrom the rear elongated portion 105 in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the rear elongated portion 105, and likewise the rearelongated portion 105 may extend in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the front elongated portion 103.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a tine accordingto an aspect of the disclosure. Front elongated portion 103 may have anose portion 106 located at an opposite end from the rear elongatedportion 105. The nose portion 106 may have a first side 109 opposite asecond side 111 and a top surface 113 opposite a bottom surface 115,where the top surface 113 and the bottom surface 115 converge towards atip 107 of the nose portion 106 in a direction opposite from the rearelongated portion 105.

In certain aspects, a first pin receiving cavity 119 may be formed inthe first side 109 of the nose portion 106, and a second pin receivingcavity 139 may be formed in the second side 111 of the nose portion 106.As seen in FIG. 2, it is contemplated that in some aspects the first pinreceiving cavity 119 may extend only partially into the first side 109of the nose portion 106, and may not extend through the nose portion 106to the second side 111. In a similar fashion, in some aspects the secondpin receiving cavity 139 (FIG. 3) may not extend through the noseportion 106 to the first side 109. In an aspect, the first pin receivingcavity 119 and the second pin receiving cavity 139 may be cylindricallyshaped.

FIG. 3 illustrates the tine of FIG. 2 having pins in the pin receivingcavities according to an aspect of the disclosure. In certain aspects,the first pin receiving cavity 119 on the first side 109 of the noseportion 106 can be located opposite the second pin receiving cavity 139on the second side 111 of the nose portion 106 such that a longitudinalaxis of the first pin receiving cavity 119 is aligned with alongitudinal axis of the second pin receiving cavity 139. In one aspectthe longitudinal axis of the first and second pin receiving cavities donot communicate with or contact each other. In the aspect shown in FIG.3, two pins 108 and two pin receiving cavities 119 and 139 are used.However, in other aspects any number of pins 108 and pin receivingcavities 119 and 139 may be used, such as, aspects with one pin and onereceiving cavity, or aspects with four pins and four receiving cavities,for example. As used herein, the term pin may refer to a pin or a knob.

Pins 108 may be inserted into the pin receiving cavities 119 and 139,where the pins 108 may be held in place by any suitable method such asby gluing or using screw threads. It is also contemplated that in someaspects the pins 108 may be held in place by friction between anexterior surface of the pins 108 and an interior surface of the pinreceiving cavities 119 and 139.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the pin shown in FIG. 3 havinga cavity according to an aspect of the disclosure. The pin 108 may havea first end 143 and a second end 145, wherein the second end 145 may befrustoconically shaped. A bolt receiving cavity 121 can be formed in thesecond end 145, where the bolt receiving cavity 121 can be substantiallycentered on a longitudinal axis of the elongated body of the pin 108. Abolt (not shown) may be inserted in the bolt receiving cavity 121, wherethe bolt receiving cavity 121 may be threaded on an inside surface, suchthat the bolt may be screwed into the bolt receiving cavity 121. In anaspect, the bolt can be inserted into the bolt receiving cavity 121 whenthe pin 108 is disposed in a pin receiving cavity, to aid in extractingthe pin from the pin receiving cavity. A head of the bolt, when fullyinserted, may rest on a bolt head receiving portion 142 (FIG. 5) locateda top end of the bolt receiving cavity 121. To remove the pin 108 fromthe pin receiving cavity, a wrench, pliers, or other tools may be usedto grip and pull on the bolt to extract the pin 108.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the pin according to an aspect of thedisclosure. In an aspect of the disclosure shown in FIG. 5, the outerwidth (L1) of the pin 108 may be about 50-70 mm, the height of theportion of the pin from the base of the pin to the start of the conicalsection (L2) may be about 70-90 mm, the height of the conical section(L3) may be about 20-40 mm, and the width (L24) may be about 46-66 mm.For example, the width (L1) of the pin 108 may be 60 mm, the height ofthe portion of the pin from the base of the pin to the start of theconical section (L2) may be 80 mm, the height of the conical section(L3) may be 30 mm, and the width (L24) may be 56 mm.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of a ground engaging toolaccording to an aspect of the disclosure. The ground engaging tool 104may have a front end 123 opposite a rear end 125, a top surface 127opposite a bottom surface 129, and a first side 131 opposite a secondside 133. It is contemplated that ground engaging tool 104 can have aground engaging surface on an exterior side, and a nose portionreceiving cavity 114 on an interior side. In an aspect, the groundengaging surface may be the tip 135 (FIG. 7). A width of the groundengaging tool 104 extending from the first side 131 to the second side133 may be greater than a height of the rear end 125 extending from thetop surface 127 to the bottom surface 129 of the ground engaging tool104. In an exemplary aspect, as shown in FIGS. 20-21, the width (L13) ofthe tip 135 of the ground engaging tool 104 extending from the firstside 131 to the second side 133 may be greater than 1.5 times of theheight (L15) of the rear end 125 extending from the top surface 127 tothe bottom surface 129 of the ground engaging tool 104.

Returning to FIG. 6, a bulge 118 may extend outwardly from an exteriorsurface of the first side 131 of the ground engaging tool 104. A lockopening 120 may extend through the bulge 118, where the bulge 118 may becapable of receiving a lock 110 (FIG. 7). In some aspects, the lockopening 120 and a receiving slot 124 may be formed in an interior sideof a side wall of the ground engaging tool 104, where the lock opening120 may extend through the bulge 118 and the receiving slot 124. Thereceiving slot 124 can be recessed from a surface of the side wall andcan extend between the rear end 125 of the ground engaging tool 104 tothe lock opening 120. The receiving slot 124 may be capable of receivingthe pin 108 when the ground engaging tool 104 is slid onto the noseportion 106 of the tine 102, where the pin 108 is then inserted into anindent 140 of the lock 110 (as seen in FIG. 10). In some aspects, asecond bulge may be disposed on the second side 133.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a tine and theground engaging tool shown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of thedisclosure. In FIG. 7, the ground engaging tool 104 is shown coupled tothe tine 102 by the lock 110. In certain aspects, the lock 110 may becapable of being rotatably positioned in the lock opening 120 to rotatebetween an unlocked position and a locked position. A locking indent 116is shown in the top of lock 110 that may be capable of receiving a tool(e.g. a ratchet, etc.) to rotate the lock 110 to a closed or lockedposition.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a portion of a tine and a groundengaging tool shown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of the disclosure.In the aspect shown in FIG. 8, the ground engaging tool 104 is showncoupled to the tine 102.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective view of a ground engaging toolshown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of the disclosure. In the aspectshown in FIG. 9, the top surface 127 is shown opposite the bottomsurface 129. In certain aspects, the top surface 127 may convergetowards the bottom surface 129 at the tip 135. FIG. 9 also illustrates afront perspective view of the bulge 118 with lock opening 120 shown inthe first side 131.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.7 according to an aspect of the disclosure. In FIG. 10, the pin 108 isshown disposed in the pin receiving cavity 119 of tine 102. The lock 110is shown in lock opening 120 of the ground engaging tool 104, anddisposed on the pin 108. An indent 140 can be located in the bottom ofthe lock 110 to receive the pin 108. In an aspect, locking indent 116may be capable of receiving a tool (e.g. a ratchet, etc.) capable ofrotating the lock 110 around the pin 108. The lock 110 may be rotated sothat the entrance to the indent 140 is blocked and the pin 108 cannotslide out of the indent 140. In this position, lock 110 is in a lockingposition, and the retention of the pin 108 in the indent 140 of the lock110 retains the ground engaging tool 104 to the nose portion 106 of thetine 102.

In one exemplary aspect, lock 110 and retainer bushing 112 may beconfigured to seat within an inner surface of lock opening 120 in amanner allowing lock 110 to rotate at least partially around a lockrotation axis relative to retainer bushing 112. As the ground engagingtool 104 is slid onto the nose portion 106, the pin 108 is inserted intothe indent 140 of the lock 110. As best shown in FIG. 10, retainerbushing 112 may seat directly against inner surface of lock opening 120,and lock 110 may seat against an inner surface of retainer bushing 112.The retainer bushing 112 may be made of rubber or plastic, and the lock110 may be made of a metal, such as steel. Retainer bushing 112 may be aC-shaped skirt that extends around the lock 110. In some aspects, theskirt may extend only partway around the lock 110. Retainer bushing 112may be configured to mate with the inner surface of lock opening 120.For example, retainer bushing 112 may include an outer surface with afrustoconical portion configured to mate with a correspondingfrustoconical portion of the inner surface in lock opening 120. Lockopening 120 may be configured such that, when retainer bushing 112 isseated in lock opening 120, rotation of retainer bushing 112 withrespect to the lock rotation axis is substantially prevented.

FIG. 11 illustrates a ground engaging tool system 200 with platereceiving cavities 230 and 250 according to an aspect of the disclosure.FIG. 11 illustrates an aspect with a plate configuration, where the noseportion 206 of the tine 202 is capable of receiving plates 208 and 212(FIG. 12) instead of pins 108 as in other aspects of the disclosure. Insome aspects, the nose portion 106 of the tine 202 includes a platereceiving cavity 230 formed in a side of the nose portion 206. The platereceiving cavity 230 may extend from the top surface 213 to the bottomsurface 215 of the nose portion 206. It is contemplated that the platereceiving cavity 230 may be a first plate receiving cavity, and belocated opposite from a second plate receiving cavity 250, where thefirst plate receiving cavity 230 is located on a first side 209, and thesecond plate receiving cavity 250 is located on a second side 211.

The plate receiving cavity 230 may include a top indent portion 233, abottom indent portion 232, and a ledge 231 parallel to the top surface213 of the nose portion 206. In some aspects, the ledge 231 may beformed between the top indent portion 233 and the bottom indent portion232, such that the top indent portion 233 extends further into the firstside 209 of the nose portion 206 in a direction towards the second side211 than the bottom indent portion 232. Likewise, the bottom indentportion 232 of the plate receiving cavity 230 may then be shallower thanthe top indent portion 233 in a direction towards the second side 211.In an aspect, the top indent portion 233 of the plate receiving cavity230 may be wider than the bottom indent portion 232 in a directiontowards the tip 207 of the nose portion 206.

FIG. 12 illustrates plates disposed in the plate receiving cavitiesshown in FIG. 11 according to an aspect of the disclosure. A first plate208 may be configured to fit in the first plate receiving cavity 230,and a second plate 212 may be configured to fit in the second platereceiving cavity 250. The plates 208 and 212 may further include a topportion 240, a bottom portion 241, a seating portion 242 (FIG. 14), anda knob 221. The knob 221 may be a frustoconical shape, and functionsimilarly to the top end of a pin 108, where the knob 221 may be capableof engaging the ground engaging tool 104 and the lock 110. Other shapesof the knob 221 may also be used. In an aspect, the bottom portion 241of the first plate 208 may be narrower than the top portion 240 in adirection parallel to the first side 209 of the nose portion 206. Asused herein, the term knob may refer to a knob or a pin.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the top portion 240 of the first plate208 may be flush with the side wall 209 and top surface 213 of the noseportion 206 when the first plate 208 is seated in the plate receivingcavity 230. Additionally, the bottom portion 241 may be flush with thebottom surface 215, when the first plate 208 is seated in the platereceiving cavity 230. Likewise, the second plate 212 may be flush withthe side wall 211, the top surface 213, and the bottom surface 215 whenseated in plate receiving cavity 250. In the aspect shown in FIG. 12,two plates 208 and 212, and two plate receiving cavities 230 and 250 areused. However, in other aspects any number of plates 208 and 212 andplate receiving cavities 230 and 250 may be used, such as, aspects withone plate and one plate receiving cavity, or aspects with four platesand four plate receiving cavities, for example.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG.12 according to an aspect of the disclosure. In FIG. 13, the first plate208 is shown seated in the first plate receiving cavity 230, and thesecond plate 212 is shown seated in the second plate receiving cavity250. The first plate 208 is shown with seating portion 242 disposed onledge 231 of the first plate receiving cavity 230. As such, the ledge231 may be formed between the top indent portion 233 and the bottomindent portion 232, so that the top indent portion 233 extends furtherinto the nose portion 206 in a direction towards the second platereceiving cavity 250 than the bottom indent portion 232. Similarly,seating portion 262 of the second plate 212 is shown disposed on ledge251 of the second receiving cavity 250. As such, the ledge 251 may beformed between the top indent portion 253 and the bottom indent portion252, so that the top indent portion 253 extends further into the noseportion 206 in a direction towards the first plate receiving cavity 230than the bottom indent portion 252.

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a first plate according to anaspect of the disclosure. In certain aspects, the plate 208 may includea knob 221. The knob 221 may be frustoconically shaped and may becapable of engaging the ground engaging tool 104 and the lock 110similar to the pin 108 as described above. The receiving slot 124 may becapable of receiving the knob 221 when the ground engaging tool 104 isslid onto the nose portion 206, where the knob 221 is then inserted intothe indent 140 of the lock 110. In the aspect of FIG. 14, the firstplate 208 is shown with the seating portion 242 disposed between the topportion 240 and the bottom portion 241 of the first plate 208, such thatthe top portion 240 is thicker than the bottom portion 241. In otheraspects, other plate configurations and thicknesses may be used.

FIG. 15 illustrates a top down view of the first plate shown in FIG. 14according to an aspect of the disclosure. The length of the top portion240 at the portion near the knob 221 (L4) may be about 60-90 mm, and thewidth of the knob 221 (L5) may be about 30-50 mm. In an aspect, themaximum thickness of the first plate 208 (L6) may be about 45-65 mm, andthe thickness of the top portion 240 (L7) may be about 20-40 mm. Theplate 208 may have a first tapered projection 244 and a second taperedprojection 245, where the height of a tapered projection (L8) may beabout 10-20 mm, and where the angle α may be about 40-80 degrees. Forexample, the length of the top portion 240 at the portion near the knob221 (L4) may be 74 mm, the width of the knob 221 (L5) may be 40.0 mm,the maximum thickness of the first plate 208 (L6) may be 57.5 mm, thethickness of the top portion 240 (L7) may be 27.5 mm, the height of thetapered projection 245 (L8) may be 14.4 mm, and the angle α may be 60degrees. An aspect of the disclosure with tapered projections 244 and245 may be referred to as a dovetail configuration, where a joint may beformed by one or more of the tapered projections 244 and 245 on a plate(208, 212) interlocking with a corresponding plate receiving cavity(230, 250) in the nose portion 206 of the tine 202, as seen in FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 illustrates a ground engaging tool system 300 with knobs 321integrated into the tine 302 according to an aspect of the disclosure.The tine 302 may have a nose portion 306 with a first side 309 oppositea second side 311, and a top surface 313 opposite a bottom surface 315.In certain aspects, the top surface 313 and the bottom surface 315 mayconverge towards a tip 307 of the nose portion 306. Tip 307 can extendin a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frontelongated portion 103. As seen in FIG. 16, a knob 321 may extendoutwardly from the first side 309. It is contemplated that the knobs 321may be formed as part of the tine 302 as a single piece of material(e.g., formed during casting, etc.). In other aspects, the knobs 321 maybe attached to the nose portion 306 by other processes such as welding.

The dimensions recited in FIGS. 18-22 are exemplary and may be directedto a tine 302, but may apply to other aspects, such those seen in FIGS.1-3 and 7-11 (directed to tine 102), and FIGS. 12-14 (directed to tine202) as well.

FIG. 17 illustrates a top down view of the tine with knobs shown in FIG.16 according to an aspect of the disclosure. As seen in FIG. 17, amaximum width (L9) of the nose portion 306 in a direction parallel tothe tip 307 may be substantially thinner than a minimum width (L22) ofthe front elongated portion 303 in a direction parallel to the tip 307.In an aspect, the maximum width (L9) of the nose portion 306 may beabout 230-260 mm, and the minimum width (L22) of the front elongatedportion 303 may be about 280-320 mm. For example, the maximum width (L9)of the nose portion 306 may be about 246 mm, and the minimum width (L22)of the front elongated portion 303 may be about 300 mm.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the tine with knobs shown in FIG. 16according to an aspect of the disclosure. As seen in FIG. 18, a maximumthickness (L10) of the nose portion 306 in a direction perpendicular tothe top surface 313 of the nose portion 306 may be substantially thinnerthan a minimum thickness (L21) of the front elongated portion 303 of thetine 302 in a direction perpendicular to a top surface 317 of the frontelongated portion 303. In an exemplary aspect, the maximum thickness(L10) of the nose portion 306 may be 120 mm. The height of the tip 307(L12) may be about 20-30 mm, the length of the nose portion 306 (L11)may be about 210-230 mm, and the minimum thickness (L21) of the frontelongated portion 303 may be about 190-220 mm. For example, the heightof the tip 307 (L12) may be 26 mm, the length of the nose portion 306(L11) may be 220 mm, and the minimum thickness (L21) of the frontelongated portion 303 may be about 210 mm.

FIG. 19 illustrates a top down view of the tine shown in FIG. 16 withthe ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of thedisclosure. In certain aspects, the width of the tip 135 of the groundengaging tool 104 (L13) may be about 280-320 mm, and the width of theground engaging tool 104 between the outermost edges of the bulges 118(L14) may be about 360-400 mm. For example, the width of the tip 135 ofthe ground engaging tool 104 (L13) may be about 300 mm, and the width ofthe ground engaging tool 104 between the outermost edges of the bulges118 (L14) may be about 380 mm. In other aspects, the width of the tip135 (L13) may be wider than the width L14.

FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of the tine shown in FIG. 16 with theground engaging tool shown in FIG. 6 according to an aspect of thedisclosure. In an aspect, the height of the tip 135 of the groundengaging tool 104 (L17) may be about 10-20 mm, and the length of thebottom side 129 (L16) may be about 320-350 mm. A height of the rear end125 of the ground engaging tool 104 (L15) may be about 185-205 mm. Forexample, the height of the tip 135 of the ground engaging tool 104 (L17)may be about 16 mm, the length of the bottom side 129 (L16) may be about335 mm, and a height of the rear end 125 of the ground engaging tool 104(L15) may be about 195 mm.

FIG. 21 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG.19 according to an aspect of the disclosure. The thickness (L18) of theground engaging tool 104 over the nose portion 306 may be about 20-30mm. In certain aspects, where the ground engaging tool 104 is coupled tothe nose portion 306, the distance (L19) between the tip 307 of the noseportion 306 and a point where the top surface 127 and the bottom surface129 of the ground engaging tool 104 converge to a point may be about110-120 mm. In an aspect where the top surface 127 and the bottomsurface 129 of the ground engaging tool 104 may converge at the tip 135,the distance shown by L20 may be about 20-40 mm.

For example, in the aspect of FIG. 21, the thickness (L18) of the groundengaging tool 104 over the nose portion 306 may be about 25 mm, thedistance (L19) between the tip 307 of the nose portion 306 and a pointwhere the top surface 127 and the bottom surface 129 of the groundengaging tool 104 converge to a point may be about 115 mm. In anexemplary aspect where the top surface 127 and the bottom surface 129 ofthe ground engaging tool 104 may converge at the tip 135, where theheight of the tip 135 may be about 16 mm, the distance shown by L20 maybe about 29 mm.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Typically, a breaker tine can be attached to a block handler for movingor breaking out large blocks of stone or other material in a quarry,mining, or construction environment. The block handler may use thebreaker tine for prying loose large stone blocks. As an example, a blockhandler with a breaker tine may be used in a marble quarry environmentwhere slabs of marble are cut from the side of a mountain. In such acase, the slabs are cut in a direction perpendicular to the ground,where the cut may not penetrate completely, leaving the slab slightlyattached to the rock face of the mountain. A block handler with abreaker tine then can insert the tip of the breaker tine into the cut,and pry the slab from the mountain. The cut is often only about ½-¾inches thick, so in such a case the tip of the ground engaging tool ofthe breaker tine should be thin enough (e.g., at L17 in FIG. 20) to fitinto such a cut. Due to the extreme forces involved in such anoperation, the ground engaging tool of the breaker tine may be prone towear or damage. The easily replaceable nature of the ground engagingtool of the disclosure alleviates the need to replace the entire breakertine structure, when the tip of the breaker tine is worn or damaged. Thetines, ground engaging tools, pins, and plates may be made of a metalsuch as steel, but in other aspects may be made of any material suitableto the application.

To install the ground engaging tool 104 on the nose portion 106 of atine 102 with pin receiving cavities (119, 139) or plate receivingcavities (230, 250), the pins 108 or plates (208, 212) are firstinserted into their respective receiving cavities. In an aspect wherethe knobs 321 are integral to the tine 302, as seen in FIGS. 17-19, nosuch insertion of pins or plates may be necessary. The ground engagingtool 104 with locks 110 are then inserted over the nose portion 106 ofthe tine 102 where the frustoconically shaped ends of the pins 108 orknobs (221, 321) are inserted into the locks 110. The locks 110 may thenbe turned (e.g., with a ratchet or other suitable tool) to lock theground engaging tool 104 onto the nose portion 106 of the tine 102. Toremove the ground engaging tool 104 from the nose portion 106 of thetine 102, the process is reversed.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examplesof the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated thatother implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from theforegoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereofare intended to reference the particular example being discussed at thatpoint and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope ofthe disclosure more generally. All language of distinction anddisparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate alack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from thescope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as ashorthand method of referring individually to each separate valuefalling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and eachseparate value is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. All methods described herein can beperformed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein orotherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A ground engaging tool system, comprising: a back frame assembly; abreaker tine coupled to the back frame assembly, the breaker tinecomprising: a front elongated portion; a rear elongated portionextending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the frontelongated portion; a nose portion extending from the front elongatedportion at an opposite end from the rear elongated portion; wherein afirst side of the nose portion has a frustoconically shaped first pin onan exterior surface, and a second side of the nose portion has afrustoconically shaped second pin on an exterior surface opposite thefirst pin; a replaceable ground engaging tool coupled to the noseportion of the breaker tine, comprising: a front end; a rear end; a topsurface; a bottom surface; a first side opposite a second side; and anose portion receiving cavity on an interior side.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a first pin receiving cavity formed in afirst side of the nose portion.
 3. The system of claim 2, furthercomprising: a second pin receiving cavity formed in a second side of thenose portion.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first pin receivingcavity is opposite the second pin receiving cavity but do notcommunicate or connect with each other.
 5. The system of claim 4,further comprising: a pin having a first end and a second end, whereinthe first end is frustoconically shaped.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein the pin further comprises a bolt receiving cavity formed in thesecond end and substantially centered on a longitudinal axis of the pin.7. The system of claim 6, wherein the bolt receiving cavity is threadedon an inside surface, and a top end of the bolt receiving cavity has abolt head receiving portion.
 8. The system of claim 7, furthercomprising: a bolt configured to be disposed in the bolt receivingcavity.
 9. The system of claim 5, wherein the second end of the pin isfrustoconically shaped.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the groundengaging tool further comprises a bulge extending outward from anexterior surface of the first side of the ground engaging tool, whereina lock opening extends through the bulge to the nose portion receivingcavity.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein a width of the front end ofthe ground engaging tool extending from the first side to the secondside is greater than 1.5 times of a height of the rear end of the groundengaging tool extending from the top surface to the bottom surface ofthe ground engaging tool.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the groundengaging tool further comprises a lock coupled to the lock opening. 13.The system of claim 12, wherein a first end of the first pin is capableof being inserted into an indent in a bottom portion of the lock. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the lock further comprises an indent ina top portion of the lock opposite the bottom portion.
 15. A breakertine, comprising: a front elongated portion; a rear elongated portionextending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the frontelongated portion; a nose portion extending from the front elongatedportion at an opposite end from the rear elongated portion, wherein afirst side of the nose portion has a frustoconically shaped first pin onan exterior surface, and a second side of the nose portion has afrustoconically shaped second pin on an exterior surface of the noseportion of the breaker tine and a first pin receiving cavity formed in afirst side of the nose portion and a second pin receiving cavity formedin a second side of the nose portion, wherein the first pin receivingcavity is opposite the second pin receiving cavity but do notcommunicate with each other.
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled) 18.(canceled)
 19. The breaker tine of claim 15, wherein the first pinreceiving cavity and the second pin receiving cavity are substantiallycylindrically shaped.
 20. A pin, comprising: a first end; a second endopposite the first end, wherein the second end is frustoconicallyshaped; and a bolt receiving cavity formed in the second end andsubstantially centered on a longitudinal axis of the pin; wherein thebolt receiving cavity is threaded on an inside surface, and a top end ofthe bolt receiving cavity has a bolt head receiving portion.